Heartwarming surprise ideas that will excite kids at daycare and kindergarten
Surprises can really move your emotions—your heart races with the unusual, out-of-the-ordinary experience, and you feel warmth as someone’s feelings come through directly.
One of the charms of a surprise is that not only the person receiving it enjoys it, but the person planning it can have fun too, wondering, “How will they react?”
You might be thinking, “What should we do?” if you want to plan a surprise—something loved by both adults and children—for a nursery school or kindergarten event.
So this time, we’re introducing touching surprise ideas that will excite everyone at kindergartens and nursery schools.
Find the perfect idea to match the recipient and situation—whether it’s the children, parents, or teachers.
Let’s create impactful moments that stay in the heart!
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Emotional surprise ideas that will excite kids at daycare and kindergarten (1–10)
Stop-motion chalkboard art
It’s an idea you want to incorporate into the surprise video, right? Try taking frequent photos of the cherry blossoms and messages drawn on the blackboard and turning them into a stop-motion animation! The hand-drawn warmth will help convey your gratitude.
If you write the message first and add the decorations at the end, you can give viewers plenty of time to read the message.
Have fun arranging it while expressing your appreciation to the teachers!
Performance by a fife and drum corps
At the ages of children attending kindergarten or daycare, forming a drum and fife band can be a bit challenging… So why not invite alumni and have everyone play instruments together? For milestone ceremonies like a beloved teacher’s wedding or retirement, let’s express everyone’s gratitude through music.
You could compile short clips—recruiting members, forming the band, practice scenes—into a short video and play it at the start of the ceremony to make it even more moving! And it’s okay if there isn’t much practice time.
What matters most is the feeling behind it!
kusudama (decorative paper ball used for celebrations)
Just looking at a kusudama gets you excited, doesn’t it? How about making a kusudama together for a sports day or a team competition event! Just having one can really lift everyone’s spirits.
Cut a cardboard box into two pieces and shape them into a sphere.
If you’re short on time, it doesn’t have to be perfectly round.
Decorate the surface of the kusudama with flashy gold or silver paper.
Have everyone pitch in to make the confetti and paper cranes to put inside.
For a smaller kusudama to use at a birthday party, you can even repurpose an instant noodle cup!
Heartwarming surprise ideas that will excite kids at nursery and kindergarten (11–20)
Surprise snack
When it comes to fun at daycare and kindergarten, isn’t snack time in the morning and afternoon the highlight? On regular days, kids often have store-bought treats like rice crackers or cookies, but on special days, why not prepare a surprise snack with a little extra effort? It’s sure to delight everyone! Pound cakes and puddings are especially recommended since you can make a lot at once.
Add whipped cream and fruit to make them feel even more luxurious.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to create delightful snacks that liven up birthday parties or post-recital celebrations?
Santa is here
From the moment you stop believing in fairies and Santa Claus, they stop coming to visit.
It’s Christmas only once a year—wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a real Santa Claus come? Then this year, let’s actually try calling Santa! If you look into it, you’ll find there are more event companies than you’d expect that dispatch Santa Clauses.
If paid services are a bit much… there are, albeit fewer, volunteer Santas who can come too.
At this point, we just have to search! By the way, in Greenland there’s the International Santa Claus Association, and apparently there are as many as 120 association-certified Santas.
birthday card
A birthday card to go with a present.
Sometimes the card can make you happier than the present that’s supposed to be the star, right? Let’s all make a lovely birthday card that really conveys your feelings! Besides writing and drawing, it might be fun to glue on some cut paper.
And if the card has a pop-up feature, it’ll make the recipient even more excited! Pop-up mechanisms are surprisingly easy to make, so give it a try.
Robert Sabuda’s pop-up books are also great references.
A farewell gift for the trainee
According to a company’s survey, the 14th ranking of elementary school students’ dream jobs places nursery school teachers at third in the girls’ category.
Nursery school teachers have always been a consistently popular profession, alongside nurses and veterinarians.
Let’s make farewell gifts for the interns who come dreaming of becoming future nursery teachers.
Paper flowers or bouquets, or favorite animals made with origami, would be great ideas.
Even a simple letter made by stringing together the characters you know will surely be touching! If everyone has fun making them together, that in itself will surely make for a wonderful practicum experience!